Innovation

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality, reports on food and beverage trends. He hosted "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast and authored columns for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and Nation’s Restaurant News. Thorn joined Nation’s Restaurant News in 1999 post his five-year stint in Thailand writing for Manager magazine and Asia Times newspaper. He won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and was president of the International Foodservice Editorial Council in 2005. A magna cum laude Tufts University graduate with history, he also studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and in China during college years, witnessing the Tiananmen Square events in 1989. Thorn wrote for the Oxford Encyclopedia and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014. Email: [email protected] Social media profiles include LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

🏨 Since the acquisition in 2022, Choice Hotels International relaunched Radisson Individuals in the Americas as an upper-upscale soft brand for boutique and independent hotels with local character. Over 30 Radisson Individuals properties have opened globally since 2020, 15 franchised by Choice in the Americas. The brand focuses on setting, character, and direction, providing guests with immersive local experiences without sacrificing service. Choice's portfolio now includes 1,000 upscale properties worldwide, with 200+ in development. Direct online reservations for Radisson Americas brands saw a 32% year-over-year increase post digital integration.

📌 Bill Graff, founder and CEO of ONDA, introduced a new hospitality brand merging hostel social vibes with boutique hotel comforts. After a transformative trip through Asia, he innovated a "middle" hospitality concept, launching the first location in Costa Rica, acclaimed for exceptional reviews. As remote work grows post-COVID, ONDA targets the "digital nomad" niche, aiming for 10 Costa Rican properties before international expansion. With technical advances enabling niche services, Bill envisions a "fast casual" evolution in hospitality, paralleling dining industry trends from 70 years ago.

🍺 Oriole, a cocktail bar and live music venue, relaunched at Covent Garden's The Yards after closing in 2022 due to Smithfield Market redevelopment. Led by chef Gustavo Giallonardo, with a Latin American fusion menu, starters range from £11-£13, mains around £20, and a £60 show menu. Bar director Samet Ali crafted a new cocktail menu inspired by the namesake bird. The two-story venue features live jazz and world music, designed by Daytrip Studio. Located at 7-9 Slingsby Place, London WC2E 9AB.

🍔 Majed Mansour and Wissem launched their first business, Graine, a cous cous bar brand, 11 years ago in Paris. Transitioned during Covid, they founded Junk, a burger brand, in 2021 with initial delivery operation. By the following year, Junk expanded to 14 sites across France and opened its first international site. The London site is located on Old Compton Street, Soho. Junk’s menu in London mirrors the French one, featuring a customizable burger, veggie options, truffle double cheeseburger, fries, chicken nuggets, and cookies from Puffy. Plans include opening 10-15 London sites, with interest in Oxford and Manchester, and at least two more sites in France by year-end. Additionally, they aim for Middle East expansion next year. Junk positions itself as a leading smash burger brand globally.

🔍 Over the past 25 years, Google Search evolved with a knowledge base of billions of facts. Google introduced a new Gemini model for Search, enhancing capabilities such as multi-step reasoning. AI Overviews, used billions of times in Search Labs experiments, are now rolling out to U.S. users, with plans to expand globally. Hundreds of millions in the U.S. will access AI Overviews this week, with the expectation to reach over a billion users by year's end.

🛫 Travel and logistics companies face workforce challenges affecting over 3 million employees across the 40 top-grossing firms, with labor shortages and costs up by 40% from 2018 to 2023. Logistics employee turnover increased by 33% post-COVID-19. Annually, 4 million baby boomers retire, with 6,000 pilots hitting the FAA's retirement age of 65. E-commerce growth intensifies demand for logistics workers, as 10-20% of e-commerce revenue goes towards logistics. Despite labor demand and costs rising, productivity in these sectors increased only by 15% from 2018 to 2023, trailing other industries. Outdated workforce planning methods are still common, with one airline's static models leading to 60% misalignment in staffing. AI solutions offer potential benefits, such as predictive models and automation, which can lead to significant operational improvements and cost reductions. Implementing AI can improve workforce management, demand forecasting, and training processes, potentially reducing overtime costs by 15-20% and training bottlenecks by 5-10%.

🍴 Denver-based Dividend Restaurant Group (DRG) promotes Sullivan’s Steakhouse and Eddie Merlot’s, both awarded on Wine Spectator’s 2024 list. DRG uses Champion Management and Tagger Media for influencer marketing, targeting macro and micro influencers. The company has 27 upscale locations and focuses on personalized loyalty campaigns without compromising quality, offering 2-for-$99 deals at Sullivan's on Wednesdays and at Eddie Merlot’s on Tuesdays. Wine events, menu refreshes, and a new loyalty program are also key strategies. Sullivan’s and Eddie Merlot’s are open every day, with special seafood Happy Hour deals in October.

📍 Berlin's airport praised for modern, timeless design but noted for needing efficiency improvement—40+ minute security wait compared to Paris CDG's 10+ minutes. The rise of tech giants may lead to the replacement of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) with built-in AI for search, discovery, and bookings. The importance of brand names is downplayed, suggesting names should not pigeonhole the brand, allowing for future expansion and meaning built through actions and marketing. Meta's event outshone Apple's, with new products and a live demo showcasing innovation. A shift to daily use of Generative AI by hoteliers is anticipated to spark ideas and accelerate innovation. Social media's evolving role in travel includes a 65% usage rate among travelers for planning and booking trips. The hotel industry is highlighted as a meritocracy with potential issues due to fewer people attending hotel schools and the challenge of retaining staff due to low compensation. MGM Resorts CEO points out the need for better pay and benefits in the industry. Summary: The design of Berlin's airport is lauded, but efficiency lags behind Paris CDG. Tech giants with AI could replace OTAs in travel booking. Brand names are less critical than marketing strategies. Meta's recent event eclipsed Apple's, indicating a trend towards innovative live demos. The hotel industry faces talent retention challenges, with calls for better compensation to match the demanding work environment.

💰 Stayntouch partnered with Cobblestone Hotels, which operates over 160 properties in 29 states, deploying its cloud-based Property Management System (PMS) to enhance operations by 70%. Cobblestone, founded in 2008, focuses on upper-midscale accommodations in smaller communities. The partnership offers centralized multi-property management, automated revenue optimization with built-in AI, and scalable tech solutions. Cobblestone values Stayntouch's customer support, while Stayntouch is committed to driving revenue and operational efficiency for the hotel chain.